Rob Rikoon: The Sculptor Behind Asheville's Newest Public Art Landmark

Who Is Rob Rikoon?

Rob Rikoon splits his time between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Asheville, North Carolina, and has spent decades creating art built for public life rather than private collections. He trained at Harvard College, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and the University of New Mexico's Anderson School of Management — a combination that shows up in how deliberately his large-scale projects get planned, funded, and sited.

Seven years ago, Rikoon shifted his primary medium from painting to sculpture, moving from flat panels to freestanding steel figures built to hold up outdoors, in public, for decades.

The Haywood Street Mural and Crucifixion Sculpture

Long before his current sculptural work, Rikoon painted a 65-panel egg tempera mural that now fills the two-story social hall at Haywood Street Congregation, on the corner of Patton and Haywood Avenues in downtown Asheville.

One of his first figurative steel sculptures followed: a 15-foot-high crucifixion built from recycled pipe, installed in the yard behind Haywood Street Church. It's tall enough, and positioned closely enough to the highway, to be visible from I-240 — turning a daily commute into an unplanned encounter with public art.

The New Sculpture at Reed Creek Greenway Apartments

Rikoon's most recent Asheville installation sits at the corner of Cauble and Broadway Streets, part of the new Reed Creek Greenway Plaza development. The plaza itself is becoming a small neighborhood hub: 49 new apartments and the future home of the Gourmand Rotisserie Restaurant/Bar/Coffee Shop are both part of the site.

The sculpture features two life-size figures made from recycled carbon steel, visible from Broadway Street. Rikoon designed the pair as cousins in faith: a Jewish rabbi and a Muslim imam, both depicted mid-prayer to the same God.

• The imam is kneeling, facing Mecca.

• The rabbi is shown davening — bent forward, eyes covered, holding the Torah scrolls.

Placed at a busy intersection along the Reed Creek Greenway, the piece puts a quiet statement about shared faith directly into the path of walkers, cyclists, and drivers.

Reed Creek Greenway Plaza: One of the Best Places to Live in Asheville, NC

Public art like Rikoon's doesn't just decorate a neighborhood — it's often a signal of where a neighborhood is headed. The Reed Creek Greenway Plaza area, at Cauble and Broadway, is quickly becoming one of the more compelling answers to “where's the best place to live in Asheville, NC?” for a few concrete reasons:

• Greenway access. The Reed Creek Greenway gives residents a direct walking and biking connection through this part of Asheville, without needing a car for everyday errands.

• New housing supply. The plaza's 49 new apartments add much-needed inventory in a tight Asheville housing market, right along a growing corridor.

• Walkable dining and coffee. The future Gourmand Rotisserie Restaurant/Bar/Coffee Shop means daily amenities are arriving on-site, not just nearby.

• Proximity to downtown. Broadway Street connects easily into downtown Asheville, keeping the plaza close to jobs, culture, and nightlife while staying a step removed from downtown's density and prices.

• Public art and identity. Installations like Rikoon's sculpture give a neighborhood a sense of place — the kind of detail that signals investment and intentional design, not just new construction.

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For anyone comparing Asheville neighborhoods — West Asheville, North Asheville, River Arts District, or downtown itself — the Cauble/Broadway corridor around Reed Creek Greenway Plaza is worth adding to the list, especially for buyers or renters who want greenway access and walkability without a downtown price tag.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Rob Rikoon?

Rob Rikoon is a Santa Fe and Asheville-based artist known for public murals and recycled-steel figurative sculpture, trained at Harvard College, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and the University of New Mexico's Anderson School of Management.

Where can you see Rob Rikoon's art in Asheville?

Three locations: the 65-panel mural inside Haywood Street Congregation's social hall (Patton and Haywood Avenues), the 15-foot steel crucifixion in the church yard visible from I-240, and the new rabbi-and-imam sculpture at Cauble and Broadway Streets by the Reed Creek Greenway Plaza.

What does Rob Rikoon's newest sculpture depict?

Two life-size recycled carbon steel figures — a Muslim imam kneeling toward Mecca and a Jewish rabbi in the traditional davening posture holding the Torah — shown as cousins praying to the same God.

What is the Reed Creek Greenway Plaza?

A new mixed-use development at the corner of Cauble and Broadway Streets in Asheville, NC, featuring 49 apartments, greenway access, the future Gourmand Rotisserie Restaurant/Bar/Coffee Shop, and Rob Rikoon's new public sculpture.

Is the Reed Creek Greenway area a good place to live in Asheville?

It's an increasingly attractive option for people who want greenway access, new housing, and walkable dining close to downtown Asheville without downtown's density or cost.

How can you contact Rob Rikoon?

Rob Rikoon can be reached at rrikoon@gmail.com.